The Ordinary Elite

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence lawyer and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 11th episode of Season 3, we discuss wars and human rights atrocities in the Middle East with Israeli journalist and author, Gideon Levy. Gideon writes opinion pieces and a weekly column for the newspaper Haaretz that often focus on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. He has won prizes for his articles on human rights in the Israeli-occupied territories. In 2021, Gideon won Israel's top award for journalism, the Sokolov Award. His new book, "The Killing of Gaza: Reports on a Catastrophe" is available in bookshops and Amazon.

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence lawyer and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 10th episode of Season 3, we discuss current political issues in the UK and beyond with Jon Trickett MP. Jon was the only Labour MP to vote against the cut to the Winter Fuel Payment. Jon is a former Leader of Leeds City Council and a former member of Labour's Shadow Cabinet.

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence lawyer and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 9th episode of Season 3, we discuss the UK Government's first Labour budget with former Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, John McDonald MP. Will Labour's policies transform the lives of ordinary people for the better in the UK?

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence lawyer and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 8th episode of Season 3, we pay tribute to the legacy and memory of Scotland's former First Minister, Alex Salmond, who died suddenly at the weekend while speaking at a diplomatic conference in North Macedonia. Alex was fond of quoting from the poems and writings of Robert Burns. The words from Rabbie's "Here's a health to them that's awa" seem fitting: "There’s nane ever fear’d that the truth should be heard,But they whom the truth would indite".

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence lawyer and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 7th episode of Season 3, we consider Prime Minister Keir Starmer's first 100 days in government. From "Freebiegate"; cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance for over 10 million UK pensioners; the replacement of the top team at Number 10 and backtracking on tax hikes for the most wealthy in our society, it has been a bad start. Will the PM turn things around or run aground?

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast series brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence lawyer and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 6th episode of Season 3, we consider the big political stories of the week. We examine the disasterous decision from Prime Minister Keir Starmer & Co., to cut the Winter Fuel Allowance for over 10 million UK penioners. We consider the grim news that Scotland's only oil refinerty in Grangemouth is due to close next year.

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast series brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence lawyer and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 5th episode of Season 3, we consider the big political stories of the week in Scotland and the UK. We reflect on key themes from our recent senior political guests - former PM of Australia Malcolm Turnbull; former FM of Scotland Alex Salmond; and Major of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham.

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast series brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence lawyer and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 4th episode of Season 3, we are delighted to be joined by Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester. We discuss Andy's approach to putting people first in politics and his ability to work with all political parties to deliver fantastic change for people across Greater Manchester.

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast series brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence lawyer and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 3rd episode of Season 3, we are delighted to be joined by the former First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, now leader of the Alba Party. As we approach the 10th anniversary of the Scottish independence referendum, we ask Alex for his reflections on that campaign, while looking at the last decade of Scottish politics and government. We examine the need for good governance, competence and strategy at Holyrood and consider the future for Scotland.

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast series brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence lawyer and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 2nd episode of Season 3, Annmarie Ward the Chief Executive of the charity Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR UK) joins us. The latest figures for drug related deaths were published yesterday - 1,172 people died in Scotland in 2023, representing a 12% increase in the loss of life from the previous year; with Scotland having the highest drug death rate in Europe. Five years ago, the Scottish Ministers declared drug related deaths a public health emergency in Scotland. But what has changed?

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast series brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence lawyer and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 1st episode of Season 3, we're delighted to be joined by the former Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull. Before his political career, Malcolm had a very successful career in law and business. In 1986, he made legal history beating the UK Government in the Spycatcher trial: HM Attorney General for the United Kingdom v Heinemann Publishers Proprietary Ltd & Peter Wright. The litigation had been raised by Margaret Thatcher’s government to prevent publication of a book which was to be published in Australia. ‘Spycatcher’ was the selected memoirs of a retired MI5 agent then living in Tasmania. We also discuss truth and candour in 21st century politics; Brexit and the use of referenda in constitutional politics.

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast series brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence practitioner and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 18th episode in Season 2, we examine the outcome of the UK General Election which resulted in a landslide victory for Labour with 412 MPs. We consider what it means for Labour, the Tories, the SNP and other political parties; and most importantly for public policy in Scotland and the UK.

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast series brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence practitioner and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 17th episode in Season 2, we talk with the sports broadcaster and journalist, Jim Spence. Jim was previously a college of further education lecturer in Dundee. College lecturers in Scotland have been in a pay dispute with industrial action since 2022. They are still flighting for fair pay and so far they have been offered a 6.9% deal over three years - much less than many other public sector workers. We also talk with Jim about Scotland's national football team who are now out of Euro 2024.

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast series brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence practitioner and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. On 18 June 1984, 8,000 striking miners picketed lorry drivers outside of the Orgreave coking plant. Pickets were peaceful but at Orgreave, miners were met with 6,000 police officers in riot gear with batons, shields and horses. In our 16th episode in Season 2, we talk with two Scottish miners - Brendan Moohan and Pat Egan who were at Orgreave on 18 June 1984. We discuss police brutality that day, being arrested, charged and prosecuted for peacefully protesting against the loss of people's livelihoods.

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast series brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence practitioner and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 15th episode in Season 2, we speak with Stuart Campbell of the popular political website, Wings over Scotland. In October 2020, Wings highlighted that according to the SNP's 2019 accounts it only had £97,000 in its bank account and total net assets of £272,000. His news article "You've Been Robbed" invited donors who were "concerned about this state of affairs" to ask the SNP what has happened to their donations. The rest, as they say, is history. We discuss the UK General Election and all things UK and Scottish politics.

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast series brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence practitioner and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 14th episode in Season 2, we discuss the big political events over the last 24 hours. A UK General Election will take place on 4 July 2024. At Holyrood today, the Standards Committee has proposed a ban on Michael Matheson MSP from attending the Scottish Parliament for 27 sitting days, as well as docking his pay for 54 days. All of this and more.

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast series brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence practitioner and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 13th episode in Season 2, we talk with Ash Regan MSP, the Alba Party's Holyrood leader, about all things Scottish politics. Ash was the first government minister to resign on a question of principle since the SNP came to power in 2007. Ash has contributed a chapter to the forthcoming book, "The Women Who Wouldn't Wheesht". The book represents a collection of over thirty essays and photographs, where some of the women involved tell the story of the five-year campaign to protect women’s sex-based rights. Other contributors include: J.K. Rowling and SNP MP Joanna Cherry. Available on Amazon from 30 May 2024: https://amzn.eu/d/hm7I3jY

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast series brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence practitioner and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 12th episode in Season 2, we ask whether John Swinney will bring fresh ideas and leadership to the SNP and Scottish Government as the new First Minister of Scotland? Or will it be more of the same old same? How will the SNP operate as a minority administration and who will support them?

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast series brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence practitioner and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 11th episode in Season 2, we discuss the Scottish Government's Land Reform (Scotland) Bill. We're joined by former MSP and Scottish land expert Andy Wightman. Andy believes in the fundamental democratisation of land ownership in Scotland. We ask will the Land Reform Bill make a difference and is their a political will in Scotland to revolutionise land ownership and use? Or is it simply virtue signalling? Visit Andy's website here: https://andywightman.scot

The Ordinary Elite is a Scottish podcast series brought to you from Glasgow by John McGovern and Mike Dailly. Both are Solicitor Advocates - John a criminal defence practitioner and Mike a civil litigation practitioner and social justice campaigner. In our 10th episode in Season 2, we discuss the future of Glasgow's city centre, night time economy and public transport, including black taxis. We're joined by Glasgow entertainment and club guru, Donald MacLeod of the Garage and Cathouse nightclubs. We ask is Glasgow's city centre and night time economy in a vortex of doom? If so, how can we turn this around?